Glazer Safety Slug 9mm — Ballistic Gel Review

Nightmares at 20,000 Feet: Corbon Glazer Safety Slug 9mm +P Ballistic Gel Test

Introduction

The Corbon Glazer Safety Slug 9mm +P takes a unique approach to handgun performance. Instead of a typical hollow point, it uses a jacketed bullet with a blue polymer nose filled with compressed #12 shot. This design aims to fragment on impact and reduce over-penetration, making it suitable for environments where bystander safety matters most.

This ballistic test explores how the Glazer Safety Slug performs through heavy clothing and calibrated ballistic gel. The focus areas include velocity, energy transfer, and penetration when fired from two common 9mm handguns.

Test setup and conditions

To compare performance across barrel lengths, two pistols were used:

A compact model with a 3.1-inch barrel.
A full-size handgun with a 4.5-inch barrel.

The test included a heavy clothing barrier made from denim, fleece, and two cotton T-shirts. Each round was fired into calibrated 16-inch ballistic gel. Chronographs measured five-shot averages, while gel blocks were examined to record penetration, fragmentation, and recovered bullet mass.

During the test, the compressed shot produced a visible residue inside the gel, leaving a messy but clear picture of the round’s fragmentation.

Chronograph and velocity results

Velocity readings showed clear differences between the short and long barrels. The compact pistol averaged in the low 1400 ft/s range, while the full-size gun averaged in the low 1500 ft/s range.

For an 80-grain bullet, that translates to mid-to-upper 300 ft·lb of energy, which is strong performance for a 9mm +P round. The longer barrel naturally delivered a slight boost in velocity, but both stayed close to or above the manufacturer’s claim.

One inaccurate chronograph reading was removed, and averages were recalculated to keep results fair and consistent.

Ballistic gel performance

In gel testing, both barrel lengths produced nearly the same results. Maximum penetration reached about 6.5 inches, while most energy was released almost immediately on entry. Within the first quarter-inch to four inches, the bullet fragmented heavily, spreading dozens of tiny pellets outward.

The jacket split open, and the blue polymer tip flattened completely. The result was a wide but shallow wound channel packed with small lead shot. Beyond roughly seven inches, almost no additional penetration occurred.

Fragmentation and recovered material

Recovered material confirmed just how much the bullet broke apart. Only part of the original 80 grains remained in the largest fragments. Much of the lead shot and copper jacket stayed scattered throughout the first few inches of the wound track.

The massive fragmentation made cleanup difficult and highlighted how effectively the projectile disintegrates. While this behavior meets the design goal, it also means little weight retention and minimal deep penetration.

Strengths and limitations

The Corbon Glazer Safety Slug performs exactly as designed. It delivers instant energy transfer and nearly eliminates over-penetration. This makes it ideal for tight, crowded environments where every stray bullet poses a serious risk.

However, this strength is also its limitation. With only about 6.5 inches of penetration, it may not reach vital organs in every defensive situation. The extreme fragmentation also makes wound performance harder to predict when barriers like clothing or bone are involved.

In short, the Glazer round trades depth for control. It’s powerful and fast but sacrifices reach for safety.

When to use the Glazer Safety Slug

This round fits very specific defensive needs. It’s suited for environments where over-penetration could be catastrophic—such as crowded public areas, workplaces, or compact indoor spaces.

For most everyday carry users, however, a traditional expanding hollow point still offers a better balance between penetration and stopping power. Shooters who need deep, reliable penetration for self-defense against larger or shielded threats may find this round too shallow.

Final thoughts

The Corbon Glazer Safety Slug 9mm +P stands out as one of the most unique defensive rounds on the market. It’s fast, consistent, and purpose-built for low-penetration scenarios.

In ballistic gel, it showed strong velocity, dramatic fragmentation, and shallow but controlled penetration. For those who prioritize bystander safety over terminal depth, it’s a capable option. For others seeking reliable deep-tissue impact, this ammunition remains more of a niche tool than a primary carry choice.

The test proves one thing clearly: the Glazer Safety Slug does exactly what it promises — it fragments fast and stops shallow.